Grizzlies Reportedly Want First-Round Pick and Young Player in Any Ja Morant Trade
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Memphis, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies have set an initial asking price of one first-round draft pick and a young player in potential trade talks involving guard Ja Morant, veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein said on SiriusXM’s “Deals and Dunks.”
Morant, 25, is in the third season of a five-year, $197 million contract that will pay him more than $39 million this year and even more in each of the next two seasons, a financial commitment rival teams must consider.
According to Stein, the Miami Heat have at least explored Morant’s availability, though it is unclear how far Miami would go if negotiations focus on draft assets and young talent rather than expiring contracts. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto added that the New Orleans Pelicans have joined a group of interested teams that already includes the Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks.
Executives around the league have compared Morant’s situation to Trae Young’s departure from Atlanta, noting that the All-Star was moved despite strong statistics once his standing with the Hawks stalled. Morant’s résumé is shakier: he has never appeared in 75 games during a season and has missed more games than he has played over the past three years.
This season the two-time All-Star is averaging 19.0 points and 7.6 assists while shooting a career-low 40 percent from the field and just over 20 percent from three-point range.
Memphis is believed to be aiming for a return package similar to what Atlanta secured for Young, but early signals suggest the market may not support that price.
Source: Hoops Wire
